On 19th October 2021, one person was reportedly killed and several others were injured when a Russian or Syrian regime forces’ attacked Qaqafin, in the “de-escalation zone”, in southern countryside of Idlib, Syria. Multiple sources indicated that the attack was artillery shelling, using “several laser-guided Krasnopol missiles.” There were reports that the number of civilians injured was four to five.

Aaswat News mentioned that the person killed in the attack was “a member of the armed Syrian opposition” and Zaitun Agency also reported that the deceased was “a fighter in the revolutionary faction.”

7al News reported that a military source from the Syrian National Army, also known as the Free Syria Army, who did not want to be named, said that “a member of the National Army was killed and five others were wounded after government forces targeting their headquarters in the village of Qoqafin with Russian made Krasnopol missiles, sources from Syrian army sites.”

A local source on Twitter, @Blal_Haj_Ahmed reported that “Assad’s gangs stationed at the surrounding checkpoints target with Russian “Krasnopol” missiles the vicinity of the villlage of Qaqafin in the southern countryside in Idlib, in conjunction with the flight and rotation of reconniassance aircraft in the area.”

Zaman Al Wasl News reported that this attack was linked to “regime forces and militias linked to Russia stationed in the “Jorin” camp.” It continued that, “Russian warplanes also launched three air strikes using high-explosive missiles, targeting the southwestern outskirts of the town of “Al-Bara”, the southern gateway to Jabal Al-Zawiya, without causing any casualties” although the attacks, which also used Krasnopol missiles, “caused widespread destruction in agricultural lands and civilian properties.” Xber News reported that the attacks in Al-Bara were in the vicinity of “the Turkish point” and “targeting the Turkish regime’s army” which was in the area that morning.

Xber News also noted that the Idlib governorate and the countryside of Aleppo and Hama are “witnessing a major military escalation by Russia and the Syrian regime.”

Baladi News reported that the Civil Defense teams worked to rescue and transfer the injured to the nearest medical centre.